different prices between ebay and website- Yes or No?

[Benjib]

is it common to offer better prices via a website than available on eBay? I know I'm not allowed to advertise "better prices are on my site" on eBay, I wondered if it was common practice, or if it's better to keep the same pricing in order to take advantage of the higher margin when selling on my website?

 

[pelparc]

Its very common, I save loads buying direct rather than eBay and Amazon.

 

[UrbanRetail]

My eBay prices are higher to keep my margins the same across both platforms. Then with orders from eBay I stick a little card in each package with the website on and a discount code.

 

[Benjib]

we use the direct delivery method so couldnt really put info in the parcels etc plus its a one off purchase product so we dont really get repeat customers. Its a shame a little point in the right direction cant be added to an ebay listing

 

[Iain_Henderson]

It might depend on what your selling. I sell value jewellery and hair accessories mostly on Amazon, then eBay, then website.

Changed pricing to make gross profit same on all platforms which resulted in greatly reduced prices on the website. Sales didn't improve..

You won't know until you try!

 

[pelparc]

I have seen some company's display their email address as something like [email protected]
depends on how much the user wants to fine and use you direct. I am not sure if having such a contact email address is against the rules...

 

[Sparetoolparts]

Are you aloud to advertise email addresses on Ebay? At present I too, increase my ebay sale prices to get a similar margin to the site, but my ebay sales are down, even more so since I've gone VAT registered :-(

 

[19ninety]

is it common to offer better prices via a website than available on eBay? I know I'm not allowed to advertise "better prices are on my site" on eBay, I wondered if it was common practice, or if it's better to keep the same pricing in order to take advantage of the higher margin when selling on my website?

eBay is a giant convenience store, they've done well building a reputation for being the go to place for cheap prices ... because many sellers are prepared to sell for next to nothing on eBay, even when their own website prices are higher.

Instead of just offering better prices on my website by discounting, I push my prices up as much as possible on eBay, partly because I refuse to accept that I should foot the bill for the customers convenience (be it inability to or decision not to search the internet for a better deal) with eBay and PayPal. I get that it's eBays commission providing me a sale on their platform, but everything I sell is quite easily found in a simple internet search, either as search results or ads. The other reason I increase my eBay prices is that it both increases my profit margin on eBay and also on my website!!
This means on my website I sell many products at RRP with no need to discount to try and entice a deal hungry shopper, because that potential customer already sees a cheaper than on eBay or on eBays paid ads and search results. Some prices need to be competitive so I'll discount my website prices a touch to be cheaper where needs be, but only if there is still a good margin (which their almost always is). I also don't accept PayPal on my website, again I'm loosing a % or my margin for the customers convenience if I do accept PayPal, so if they want to buy my nice shiny stuff they have to literally get their wallet out

 

[Benjib]

Are you aloud to advertise email addresses on Ebay? At present I too, increase my ebay sale prices to get a similar margin to the site, but my ebay sales are down, even more so since I've gone VAT registered :-(

Well I dont think so, however I did have a link on my listings saying "get a free cover on our website" to try and get the customer to visit my site and I never had any warnings from ebay. It all depends if you are willing to risk facing the wrath of eBay, in my opinion as long as you dont give them a reason to actually trawl through your listings the chance of getting caught is slim. I know their system will pick up for example "get a better price on my website" so you've just got the be a bit creative

 

[LPB 123]

My eBay prices are higher to keep my margins the same across both platforms. Then with orders from eBay I stick a little card in each package with the website on and a discount code.

We do the same as @UrbanRetail

 

[14Steve14]

I increase prices on eBay to cover their additional costs. I also add cards and leaflets to the parcels with web details and special offers. There is also an email address in there which is not published anywhere else. Its surprising how many emails I get on that email address saying items have not arrived. I do add a watermark to my own product images within eBays rules with the business name in it.

I did think that eBay was becoming a waste of time and for a few months stopped listing items. Believe it or not sales also dropped on the website. As many of my products are similar, I added all products into a multi variation listing. I now list over 150 products in one listing reducing by eBay costs considerable, but I have also noticed a small drop in sales since doing that which is acceptable.

I like to think that some people are becoming a bit more savvy and use eBay as a place to find the items, then look around the internet to find the same products cheaper. I do it, so others must.

 

[Xtm_Mike]

This is interesting as every time I have opted to buy an item through eBay rather than retailer website I have ended up paying less. For example a couple of months a go I was looking for a particular electronic item. I found it on the company website and also on the company eBay store.. the eBay store was same price but was free shipping where as the retail store was not. I saved about £4 by choosing eBay.

 

[pelparc]

This is interesting as every time I have opted to buy an item through eBay rather than retailer website I have ended up paying less. For example a couple of months a go I was looking for a particular electronic item. I found it on the company website and also on the company eBay store.. the eBay store was same price but was free shipping where as the retail store was not. I saved about £4 by choosing eBay.

I have to agree eBay is hard to find a cheaper price but not for everything so it can be worth a quick look. Amazon on the other hand is getting very expensive and you can almost always get it cheaper.

 

[lesliedocherty]

I also don't accept PayPal on my website, again I'm loosing a % or my margin for the customers convenience if I do accept PayPal, so if they want to buy my nice shiny stuff they have to literally get their wallet out

Think you're missing a trick with not accepting PayPal, lots of customers who sell on ebay part with PayPal cash more easily than normal money.
Paypal can be 40-60% of our money each week.

 

[pelparc]

Think you're missing a trick with not accepting PayPal, lots of customers who sell on eBay part with PayPal cash more easily than normal money.

Agree.. We have been seeing quite a steady growth is sales via eBay, This month its actually 70% of sales compared to customers selecting Sage Pay as the payment option. eBay have lost the dodgy payment association people had a few years ago, just a shame there commission is so high.

 

[webgeek]

its a one off purchase product so we dont really get repeat customers

Unless you're selling suicide kits, there's always room for a follow-up sale of some product or service.

Ignoring this possibility is leaving a ton of money on the table.

If you have a product going to a customer, then you have an opportunity to include additional information whether it's on the packing slip, inside the product package, sent as a follow-up, presented during a satisfaction survey or any of a dozen other methods. Think about it before accepting it can't be or shouldn't be done.